C H A P T E R
06
COMPUTER
SOFTWARE
Software is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a
computer what to do and how to do. A software is an interface between the user and the computer
hardware. It is responsible for controlling, integrating and managing the hardware components of a
computer system and for accomplishing specific tasks.
Types of Software
Software can be divided into two major categories
1. System software 2. Application software
System Software
It consists of several programs, which are directly responsible for controlling, integrating and managing
the individual hardware components of a computer system. System software also provides the interface
between the user and components of the computer. Depending on the functionality, the system
software can be further divided into following categories:
1. Operating System It consists of programs which control, coordinate and supervise the activities
of the various components of a computer system. Its function is to provide link between the
computer hardware and the user. It provides an environment to run the programs. e.g. MS-DOS,
Windows XP/2000/98, Unix, Linux, etc.
The operating system performs the following functions
(i) It recognises input from keyboard, sends output to the display screen.
(ii) It makes sure that programs running at the same time do not interfere with each other.
(iii) It is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorised users do not access the system.
BIOS
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is commonly known as System BIOS. The BIOS controls various
electronic components within the main computer system. The initial function of the BIOS is to initialise system
devices such as the RAM, hard disk, CD/DVD drive, video display card and other hardwares.
56 Learn, Revise & Practice ~ Computer Awareness
2. Device Drivers A software, which is Some of the general purpose software are as follows
written with the objective of making a device 1. Word Processing Software A word
functional when it is connected to the processor is a software program capable of
computer is called device driver. It is a system creating, storing and printing of documents.
software that acts like an interface between Word processors have the ability to create a
the device and the user. document and make changes anywhere in the
Every device, whether it is a printer, monitor, document.
mouse or keyboard has a driver program Today, the word processor is one of the most
associated with it for its proper functioning. frequently used programs or online services
3. Language Translator It helps in converting used on a computer system.
programming languages to machine language. e.g. Microsoft Word, WordPerfect (Windows
The translated program is called object code. only), AppleWorks (Mac only),
There are three different kinds of language [Link] Writer, etc.
translator : Assembler, Compiler and
Interpreter. 2. Electronic Spreadsheets Spreadsheet
applications (sometimes referred to simply as
Linker spreadsheets) are the computer programs that
It is a system program that links together several accept data in a tabular form and allow you to
object modules and libraries to form a single and create and manipulate spreadsheets
coherent program (executable). The main purpose of electronically.
linker is to resolve references among files. Linker is The relationship between cells are called
used to determine the memory locations that code
from each module will occupy and relates its
Formulas and the names of the cells are
instruction by adjusting absolute references. called Labels. e.g. Microsoft Excel, Corel
Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, [Link]
Loader Calc, etc.
It is a kind of system software which is responsible
for loading and relocation of the executable program 3. Presentation Software Presentation is
in the main memory. It is a part of operating system the practice of showing and explaining the
that brings an executable file residing on disk into contents of a topic to an audience or a
memory and starts its execution process. learner visually. People, in a variety of
settings and situations, use presentation
Application Software software to make their presentations more
interesting and professional.
It is a computer software designed to help the
user to perform single or multiple tasks. It is a set e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel
of instructions or programs designed for specific Presentations, Lotus Freelance Graphics,
uses or applications, that enable the user to [Link] Impress, etc.
interact with a computer. Application softwares 4. Database Management System (DBMS)
are also called the end-user programs. These A DBMS refers to the software that is
programs do the real work for users. responsible for sorting, maintaining and
utilising a database.
There are two types of application software
It enables a user to define, create and
General Purpose Software maintain the database and provide controlled
These softwares are those softwares which are access on it. e.g. Microsoft Access, Corel
used for any general purpose. They allow people Paradox, MySQL, [Link] Base, etc.
to do simple computer tasks.
Computer Software 57
5. Desktop Publishing (DTP) Software It administration, accounts, billing, marketing,
is a tool for graphic designers and housekeeping, front office or front desk.
non-designers to create visual e.g. Djubo, Aatithya HMS, Hotelogix PMS, etc.
communications for professional or desktop 4. Reservation System A reservation system
printing as well as for online or on screen or Central Reservation System (CRS) is a
electronic publishing. computerised system used to store and
e.g. Quark XPress, Adobe PageMaker, 3B2, retrieve information and conduct transactions
CorelDraw, Corel Ventura, Illustrator, etc. related to air travel, hotels, car rental or other
6. Graphics Software (Image Editing) It is activities. Today, number of websites like
an application program or collection of [Link], [Link]
programs that enables a person to manipulate provide online booking for tourists.
visual images on a computer system. Most 5. Report Card Generator It is an
graphics softwares have the ability to import application software which is commonly used
and export one or more graphics file formats. in schools by the examination department to
e.g. DirectX, Adobe Photoshop, piZap, prepare and generate the report cards of the
Microsoft Publisher, Picasa, etc. students.
7. Multimedia Software Multimedia 6. Accounting Software It is an application
includes a combination of text, audio, still software that records and processes
images, animation, video or interactivity accounting transactions within functional
content forms. e.g. Macro-Media Flash, modules such as accounts payable,
Xilisoft Video Converter, VLC Media Player, accounts receivable, payroll and trial balance.
Nimbuzz, etc. e.g. Tally. ERP9, HDPOS, MARG, Profit book
etc.
Specific Purpose Software 7. Billing System It refers to the software
These softwares are designed to perform specific that is used to perform the billing process. It
tasks. This type of application software generally handles the tracking of labled products and
has one purpose to execute. services delivered to a customer or set of
customers. e.g. Billing Manager, Billing
Some of the specific purpose application softwares
Tracker, kBilling, etc.
are described below
1. Inventory Management System and System Utilities
Purchasing System Inventory is a list of
These programs perform tasks related to the
goods and materials available in a stock.
maintenance of the computer system. These are
Inventory management system is generally
the packages which are loaded into computer
used in departmental stores or in an
during time of installation of operating system.
organisation to keep the records of the stock
They are used to support, enhance, expand and
of all the physical resources.
secure existing programs and data in the
e.g. Fishbowl, AdvancePro, etc. computer system.
2. Payroll Management System It is used System utility mainly consists of the following
by all modern organisations to encompass functions
every employee of the organisation who
receives a regular wages or other 1. Disk Compression It increases the amount
compensation. e.g. Namely, UltiPro, etc. of information that can be stored on a hard
disk by compressing all information stored on
3. Hotel Management System It refers to a hard disk. e.g. DiskDoubler, SuperStor Pro,
the management techniques used in the hotel DoubleDisk Gold , etc.
sector. These can include hotel
58 Learn, Revise & Practice ~ Computer Awareness
2. Disk Fragmenter It detects computer 6. Text Editor It is a program that facilitates
files whose contents are broken across several the creation and correction of text. A text
locations on the hard disk and moves the editor supports special commands for text
fragments to one location to increase editing, i.e. you can write, delete, find and
efficiency. It can be used to rearrange replace words, lines, paragraphs, etc. e.g.
files and unused space on your hard disk. MS-Word, WordPad, Notepad etc, in which
e.g. MyDefrag, Diskeeper, Defraggler, etc. Notepad is the most popular text editor.
3. Backup Utilities It can make a copy of all Tit-Bits
information stored on a disk and restore
■ Adobe Page Maker is a typesetting tool formely
either the entire disk or selected files.
widely used for desktop publishing.
4. Disk Cleaners It is used to find files that ■ Fully Backup contains a copy of every program,
have not been used for a long time. This data and system file on a computer.
utility also serves to increase the speed of a ■ Firmware is a combination of software and
slow computer. e.g. Bleach Bit cleaner, etc. hardware. e.g. ROMs, PROMs and EPROMs.
■ Freeware is commonly used for copyrighted
5. Anti-virus It is the utility which is used to software that is given away for free by its owner.
scan computer for viruses and prevent the ■ CAD (Computer Aided Design) Software is used
computer system files from being corrupt. by architects, engineers, drafters and other to
e.g. Kaspersky, AVG, McAfee, Avira, etc. create precision drawings.
QUESTION BANK
1. The term used to describe the intangible 4. The primary purpose of software is to turn
instructions that tell the computer what to data into [RBI Grade B 2014]
do is [IBPS Clerk 2015] (1) information (2) programs
(1) hardware (2) software (3) objects (4) charts
(3) storage (4) input/output (5) websites
(5) None of these
5. Computer software is [SBI Clerk 2015]
2. Software refers to [IBPS Clerk 2012] (1) used only for output (2) a computer peripheral
(1) the physical components that a computer is (3) used for input (4) a set of instructions
made of (5) used only in operating systems
(2) firmware
(3) programs 6. The steps and tasks needed to process data,
(4) people ware such as responses to questions or clicking
(5) None of these an icon, are called
(1) instructions (2) the operating system
3. Which of the following is software?
[IBPS Clerk 2014] (3) application software (4) the system unit
(1) Keyboard 7. The two broad categories of software are
(2) Internet Explorer (1) word processing and spreadsheet
(3) Scanner (2) transaction and application
(4) Mouse (3) Windows and Mac OS
(5) Printer (4) system and application